UPDATE: In a stunning upset, the No. 10 Iowa State Cyclones delivered a historic blow to the No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers, winning 81-58 on December 2, 2023, in West Lafayette, Indiana. This defeat marks Purdue’s largest nonconference home loss ever recorded in AP poll history, according to ESPN Research.
Iowa State’s victory was fueled by a remarkable performance from Milan Momcilovic, who scored 20 points and helped the Cyclones sink 11 three-pointers. Alongside him, Killyan Toure and Joshua Jefferson each contributed crucial shots beyond the arc, with Toure finishing with 13 points, Jefferson with 11, and Blake Buchanan adding 12.
The Cyclones dominated the second half, shooting an impressive 59% and building their lead as high as 27 points. They started the half with an explosive 11-0 run to seize a commanding 48-33 lead just over two minutes in. The pressure on Purdue mounted as they struggled with turnovers, committing 15 to Iowa State’s 12, and their shooting from three-point range faltered, hitting only 4 of 18 attempts.
Purdue’s star players faced significant challenges; Braden Smith led the Boilermakers with just 11 points, while top scorers Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn struggled, managing only 1 of 5 and 1 of 8 from the field, respectively. Their free-throw performance was equally dismal, converting only 6 of 14 attempts.
The Cyclones’ defensive strategy was clearly effective, holding Purdue to 37% shooting overall. The loss snapped Purdue’s remarkable streak of 36 consecutive non-conference home victories, leaving fans and analysts alike in disbelief.
As Iowa State celebrates this milestone victory, they prepare to face off against Iowa on Thursday night in Ames. Meanwhile, Purdue will look to rebound as they welcome Minnesota to West Lafayette on Wednesday.
This shocking result has sent ripples through the college basketball landscape, with fans eagerly discussing the implications for both teams moving forward. Stay tuned for more updates as the season progresses.
